Coimbatore :

While the state government frequently announces plans to promote tourism in lesser known places, it has done very little to develop Valparai and Pollachi, years after recognizing them as potential tourist spots in Coimbatore district.

The government had announced its plans to develop Valparai as a tourist hub way back in 2007 while Pollachi was declared as a lesser known tourist spot in 2011. The idea was to attract tourists from popular places like Ooty so that the ecological balance of the hill stations is maintained. The government came up with various subsidies and grants for entrepreneurs to develop the infrastructure in this region but the tourist and resort owners say, the plans remain only on paper.

K Krishnaraj, a resort owner in Pollachi, had approached the government for the said grants in 2011 but was told that the funds had been diverted for other projects. He had no choice but to apply for a commercial loan.

The government has done very little to develop basic infrastructure, say resort owners. “In 2011, Kandasamy Park area was renovated at a cost of Rs 50 lakh but is closed for the past five months,” said T Sethupathi, managing director, Coco Lagoon. Without government contribution, private owners have tried to make the best use of existing infrastructure, to promote the place, he added.

In Valparai, the situation is worse. “Even after seven years, not a single park has been constructed by the tourism department. There are no parking facilities. It is not lack of funds, but rather negligence on the part of the government to promote these locations,” said M J P Shaju, secretary of Valparai Merchant Association.

“All their grants and loans are reserved for star hotels but we don’t have that kind of space. When we applied for a grant, we were told we were not eligible,” said Pradeep Kumar, treasurer, Valaparai Cottage Owners’ Association. The taluk does not even have an information centre. “As most of the land belongs to the forest or the municipality, no developmental work is allowed,” said another private home stay owner.

Many home stays had applied for a license from the tourism department but even that has been denied to them. Out of the 250 home stays only 15 have the necessary licenses, said M J P Shaju. One home stay, Yatri Nivas, that was constructed by the department several years ago has not yet been opened to the public.

Tourism department officials said they have visited the tourist spots to inspect the basic infrastructure and facilities. “We are trying to promote tourism in every way we can. There may have been some technical issues behind refusal of funds to some applicants,” said a state tourism officer. The Yatri nivas in Valparai will be inaugurated very soon, he said citing land acquisition for the delay in getting it ready.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Komal Gautham, TNN / December 03rd, 2014